21fi REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [12] 



Cooper has immortalized as "Long Tom Coffin," in his fascinating novel 

 of the Pilot, a sea story that has charmed millions of readers. 



It was not until 1S49 that the matter was iinally adjusted for carry- 

 ing these prizes into French ports, the men or their families then receiv- 

 ing, through our Government, their share of the prize-money. 



There is probably no town on the sea-coast of America that can point 

 to so large a number of her citizens who have died in foreign ports, En- 

 glish, French, and Algeriene prisons. After the Revolution, returning 

 to the town from the Jersey and Newport prison ships, some died in 

 the harbor while in sight of their homes. 



Oni) hundred and ten years ago we had our London packets, some 

 fifteen of which were commanded b}^ the most experienced seamen of 

 the place, and we sent to sea one hundred and thirty-five vessels on 

 whaling voyages, wldch, together with the coasters and smaller craft, 

 required upwards of twenty-two hundred seamen to man them. 



The second light-house* in America was built on Brant Point in 1746 

 at the entrance to our harbor. It was lighted by the merchants of the 

 town for upwards of forty-five years, when it passed under the control 

 of the General Government. 



The men of Nantucket were the pioneers and directors of the whale 

 fishery for upwards of one hundred and seventy-five years. At this 

 and every other i^ort that followed it the record is a good one, and will 

 stand forever. Other people having had at times a small degree of suc- 

 cess, have claimed more than belonged to them, and would fain leave us 

 in the wake of their recent beginnings. We ask nothing but what be- 

 longs to our place and people, and shall maintain at any cost our pre- 

 rogative as pioneers. 



There has been considerable discussion of late years as to who was 

 the first person that struck and succeeded in killing and securing the 

 first sperm whale ever captured in the Pacific Ocean. I have in my 

 possession an authentic letter which gives credit to whom credit is due, 

 and in order to set at rest forever this controversy the true facts of the 

 case are here given. It seems that Samuel Enderly, a famous merchant 

 of London, England, had been for some time in constant communication 

 with the Botches and others of Nantucket, purchasing of them man}' 

 and large invoices of oil. Very naturally, he became much interested in 

 the island, and fitted out from time to time many of our commanders 

 for these undertakings in distant seas. 



In 1788 Mr. Enderly sent to Brazil Banks the ship Aurelian, com- 

 manded by James Shields, who had for his first officer Archelus Ham- 

 mond. Arriving on the whaling ground too late in the season, Mr. 

 Hammond induced his captain to proceed around Cape Horn into the 

 Pacific Ocean, which they reached in due time and commenced whal- 

 ing. Mr. Hammond soon after struck and killed the first spermaceti 



* Brewster light was erected in Boston Harbor, 1715. See Drake's Antiquities of 

 Boston, page 553. 



